2026-2027 employment law changes: The complete guide for HR and line managers 

UK employment law is going through the biggest shake-up in a generation. With the new Employment Rights Act, we’re seeing changes in unfair dismissal, zero-hours contracts, flexible working and more; HR teams and line managers are facing a fast-moving landscape. 

For UK SMEs, the impact is even greater. Our research shows 63% of small and medium-sized businesses expect to be hit harder than most by these changes. 

This free e-book, “2026-2027 employment law changes: The complete guide for HR and line managers”, breaks down every key change by date and turns complex legislation into clear actions. 

Complete the form to download your free guide and stay ahead of legal changes through to 2027 and beyond. 

Who this guide is for

This practical employment law guide is written for: 

• HR managers in UK SMEs who need a clear view of what’s changing and when 

• Business owners and directors who want to reduce legal risk and extra admin 

• Line managers and team leaders who handle absence, performance and conduct day to day 

• Ops and finance leaders who need to plan for payroll, budgets and staffing 

If HR is your full role or only part of your role, or you manage people, this guide is for you. 

Turn complex law into simple actions 

The guide doesn’t just list employment law changes - it helps you act on them. Inside, you’ll find: 

• “What this means for your business” after each major legal change 

• Checklists to help you update contracts, policies, payroll, rotas and processes 

• Quick tips for managers on handling tricky situations around sickness, flexible working, harassment, performance and family leave 

• Practical suggestions on how to communicate changes with your teams 

• Guidance on prioritising your workload so you’re prepared well before the law changes 

At the back of the e-book, you’ll also get an HR compliance checklist for 2025 and beyond, so you can see all the key changes and expected dates at a glance. 

The guide shows you what’s changing. Breathe HR software helps you put it into practice. 

Inside the e-book, you’ll see how Breathe can support key areas of employment law compliance, including: 

• Secure, GDPR-compliant employee records 

• Document management and e-signatures for contracts and policies 

• Flexible working request workflows with audit-ready trails 

• Absence and sickness tracking, including patterns and trends 

• Performance management, especially during probation periods 

• Time & attendance and rota management for sectors like hospitality 

• Training records and online learning to keep managers up to date 

So you’re not just reacting to new laws  you’re building a more compliant, organised and people-friendly operation.